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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 , 2 0 0 8 PAGE 1 3 are the tiniest production find it hard to mate without human assistance The degree of detail is obsessive, the search company on the planet or give birth naturally, since the puppy’s head is for perfection hard for the outsider to fathom. “We — there are more dogs here often too large to pass through the birth canal. This is one of those closed worlds that may than staff,” Jemima Harrison tells me when I am Harrison compares photographs of breeds a make perfect sense to its inhabitants but look arranging a visit to her farmhouse, in Wiltshire century ago with those today, and the changes bizarre to those who stray into it. So, are the in the west of England. She isn’t exaggerating. in conformation are startling. Beauty is the people who show dogs balmy? There are two and a half staff — Harrison watchword of the showing world, according “I would completely dispute that dog people herself, who writes, directs and produces films; to staunch critics such as the RSPCA’s chief are in some way nutty,” insists the Kennel Club’s partner Jon Lane, co-producer and cameraman; veterinary adviser, Mark Evans, who has Kisko. “They are very enthusiastic about their and part-time researcher Rachael Turner. And labeled dog shows a “parade of mutants.” dogs, but unlike someone who is very enthusiastic there are at least seven dogs: five full-timers, Aesthetics have been placed before health about sailing or golfing, these are living creatures one of which attempts to eat my tape recorder, and functionality. Harrison and her supporters and they need care all year round, all day round, and two in transit. Harrison, in between making reckon this is dogdom’s “Miss World moment”: rather than a yacht or a golf club which you can ‘Mutants’ documentaries, runs a dog rescue center. if the BBC pull the plug on Crufts, it will lose its just put away until you need it next time.” While her company, Passionate Productions, is large television audience and the sponsorship Geoffrey Davies, one of the UK’s leading small, it is also noisy. It may, indeed, be the Jack that goes with it, and at best end up on some experts on the Pekingese, also rejects the charge Russell of the film world — limited in stature but obscure cable channel. of eccentricity. Showing is a hobby like any row hits Crufts capable of a loud yelp and fearsome nip. As the The Kennel Club is doing a good job of not other, he argues. Kennel Club, bastion of the dog world, organizer looking panicked when I visit its HQ in London’s Davies is fascinating because his life has of Crufts and for 135 years ruler of dogdom, is very upscale Mayfair. “Members must be dressed been dominated by dogs. He has owned more finding out. appropriately in the dining room,” reads a notice than 200 Pekingese in 50 years of showing, had In August, BBC1 broadcast Harrison’s pinned to the reception desk. “No jeans, leggings 15 champions, owned best of breed and the toy dog show disturbing film Pedigree Dogs Exposed, which or trainers.” A wooden board has inscribed on it group winner at Crufts, and judged all over the argued that highly selective breeding was the club’s patrons since its inception in 1873: the world. “I’ve been associated with the breed for 50 damaging the health of many pedigree dogs Prince of Wales from 1873 to 1901 and the five years,” he says, “since I was a schoolboy of 12. The and undermining their genetic diversity. Several reigning monarchs since. Embarrassingly, Queen Pekingese is a small dog with the heart of a lion. Britain’s Kennel Club is facing the greatest crisis organizations, including the RSPCA, the PDSA and Elizabeth II is patron of both the Kennel Club They’ve brought so much to my life. When I was leading charity the Dogs Trust, have responded by and the RSPCA. first introduced to them, I was an introverted, shy, in its history. Critics say its strict pulling out of Crufts. Sponsor Pedigree has also stuttering boy. They developed my life enormously, breeding guidelines for pedigree dogs have resulted jumped ship, but claims this was a commercial KENNEL CLUB PEDIGREE took me out to shows, and introduced me to decision rather than a moral statement. And, The Kennel Club is not used to criticism. In its people who covered every socio-economic group in animals that are unhealthy mutants potentially most serious of all, the BBC is library, I look at Edward Ash’s monumental two- — from a cousin of the Queen to a man who swept reviewing whether it should continue to broadcast volume Dogs: Their History and Development, the streets. All social barriers were broken down BY STepHen MOss the show — next year’s Crufts takes place at published in 1927; the reference to the club in through common love of the dog.” THE GUARDIAN, LONDON the National Exhibition Center in Birmingham, the introduction sets the tone. “In April 1873 the Davies’ enthusiasm is infectious, and it is England, in March. Dogdom is in uproar. So-called Kennel Club was formed, with Mr S E Shirley as tempting to play up the comedy of the bitchy whistleblowers who helped Harrison with her film chairman. He subsequently became president, world of showing. But Harrison warns me have been frozen out and allegedly subjected to holding this honor until his much-regretted against being seduced. “People have dismissed hate campaigns by traditionalists. demise in March 1904. In 1874 the first KC it as something that’s quirky and British ...” she The Kennel Club has taken Harrison to the Stud Book was published. No remarks of mine says. “It’s been the subject of humor from the broadcasting regulator Ofcom, complaining are needed to suggest that the founding of the outside world, but in fact it’s really serious for that the documentary was unfair (they were Kennel Club was the greatest step in the welfare the dogs. They’re not having a good time.” especially angry to be likened to Nazis in their of dogs and dog shows. With a master-hand this David Balding, professor of statistical genetics alleged commitment to a doggy version of organization controlled without jar or unpleasant at Imperial College London and co-author of a eugenics), but she is unrepentant. “I got a very interference, to the benefit of all. Gradually the recent report on inbreeding in purebred dogs, emotional e-mail from a senior figure at the dog show emerged from perfectly impossible agrees. The exaggerations caused by slavish Kennel Club after the program,” she says. “They conditions to a controlled and satisfactory one.” devotion to the standards is one problem, but were incredibly upset. They thought it was a The club’s principal function is to register the loss of genetic diversity is potentially even travesty, but obviously the Kennel Club were pedigree dogs — more than 270,000 a year. The more devastating and may threaten the viability never going to be happy with the program. The certificate it provides for a US$17.50 fee gives of some breeds. “Because you’re mating animals Kennel Club has remained largely unchallenged puppy buyers a guarantee of the dog’s pedigree. with similar genes,” says Balding, “you’re getting for 135 years and it needed doing. That sort of The club also funds research into canine health a big loss of genetic diversity and that has bad pomposity and arrogance needed puncturing. I issues, tries to educate the public on responsible consequences in terms of your ability to resist don’t really care how many people I’ve upset if it pet ownership, runs dog shows and field trials, disease. Breeding has gone too far. It was gets a better deal for the dogs.” and lobbies parliament on behalf of dogs. something that started getting organized and None of this good work, it complains, was became systematic in the 19th century, and it PHYSICAL DEFORMITIES discussed in Harrison’s program. didn’t do much harm for a long time. But now Harrison’s argument is that the breed standards “We knew there were health problems we have reached the point where the harm is overseen by the Kennel Club have caused an with some breeds and were already working starting to show more and more. We are now exaggeration of certain characteristics that has to address them,” says the club’s secretary, doing genetic damage to the dog.” taken some breeds further and further away from Caroline Kisko. “We started on this five years the originals, causing physical deformities that ago. That’s part of the reason we were miffed CAUTIOUS APPROACH are harmful to the dogs. There is also a separate, with the program. It made it look as if we The Kennel Club argues that it is doing what it but related, issue concerning the decline in weren’t aware of the issues and that we weren’t can, but says it has to move cautiously or the genetic diversity caused by the mating of dogs doing anything, as if we had our heads in the breed clubs — the autonomous bodies which which are closely related and the use of “super- sand.” She also dismisses the argument that represent each breed (there are 18 for the sires,” champion dogs which are deemed highly beauty rules supreme in the show ring. “Health Pekingese alone) — will go their own way.

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